x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

PODCAST

Blue-Collar BS

Brad Herda and Steve Doyle

The age-old excuse "we can"t find good people" is busted by two business coaches, Brad Herda and Steve Doyle. Blue-Collar BS features the top blue-collar business owners, thought leaders, and experts to share strategies on attracting and retaining top talent across ALL generations--including Gen Z"s (and why they should not be overlooked). Blue-Collar BS helps blue-collar business owners like you build a business that"ll thrive for decades by turning that blue-collar bullsh*t into some blue-collar

business careers

All Episodes

34:22

Grandma Had It Right: Wealth, Wisdom & Generational...

Blue-Collar BS ·

2025/12/26

Most blue collar business owners see real estate as either something they have to deal with or a major expense eating into their profits. Brad sits down solo with millennial real estate investor Geoff Stuhr to explore how property ownership can become a wealth building tool instead of just another overhead cost. We discuss the generational differences in approaching property ownership, why selling your building and leasing it back might make more sense than you think, and the three critical factors

en

26:54

Bonus or BS? Let’s Talk Holiday Compensation

Blue-Collar BS ·

2025/12/19

With Christmas less than a week away, we tackle one of the most uncomfortable conversations happening in blue collar businesses right now: the holiday bonus. What happens when bonuses have become an expectation rather than a reward? We talk through why delaying bad news creates disengagement, how to communicate with empathy when bonuses aren't happening, and the critical mistake of buying yourself a new Denali while telling employees there's no money for bonuses. Plus, we dive into the difference

en

34:50

The Bookkeeping Badass You Didn’t Know You Needed;...

Blue-Collar BS ·

2025/12/12

With Steve out on college tours, I sit down solo with Beth Carter, the self-proclaimed badass bookkeeper who talks to trades clients like actual human beings instead of reciting profit and loss statements like a robot. We discuss why your aunt Sue probably shouldn't be doing your books, the difference between quality bookkeeping and data entry, and how a negative $250,000 bank account on a balance sheet is a pretty good sign something's gone horribly wrong. We explore the generational divide in how

en

33:38

Serve First, Sell Later-It’s That Simple

Blue-Collar BS ·

2025/12/05

We dive into what separates great customer service from terrible experiences using Steve's recent dealership visits as an example. On this episode we discuss how behavioral styles impact sales performance, why most customer service failures are actually leadership problems, and the critical difference between selling to someone versus letting them buy from you. We explore how sales managers can better support different personality types on their teams and why rigid scripts often create more problems

en

22:09

From Best Buy Battles to Amazon Anxiety

Blue-Collar BS ·

2025/11/28

Remember when Black Friday meant people fighting at store entrances and camping out for deals? We dive into how one of America's biggest shopping traditions became a ghost town in just five years and what it reveals about how businesses must constantly evolve.In this episode, we get nostalgic about our completely different Black Friday experiences. Brad loved the event getting up early, hitting Home Depot for tool deals, and making it a tradition. Steve? He watched the chaos on TV from his couch and

en

35:36

Raised in the Projects, Powered by Purpose Terry Taylor

Blue-Collar BS ·

2025/11/21

Terry Taylor grew up moving 40 times before graduating high school, attending 25 different schools, and finding his path through sports instead of the wrong crowd. In this raw and honest episode, Terry shares how basketball and football taught him the perseverance, competitiveness, and accountability that propelled him from an hourly worker to plant manager at one of the biggest aerospace companies in the world all without a degree.Now with his MBA earned at age 50 (graduating summa cum laude with a

en

30:50

Skilled Trades Don’t Recruit Themselves - Joe...

Blue-Collar BS ·

2025/11/14

In this episode, we talk with Joe McClaran, a millennial talent acquisition manager who's passionate about changing perceptions of the skilled trades. Joe shares his journey from mortgage collections and food service to becoming a skilled trades advocate, and discusses the real challenges and opportunities in recruiting and retaining young talent in the construction industry.Joe reveals the truth about recruiting in construction: the six-month reality check when weather extremes separate the

en

20:44

When Personal Problems Clock In Too

Blue-Collar BS ·

2025/11/07

Brad's morning at Panera turned into an accidental observation study on how personal drama is infiltrating the workplace. Surrounded by Gen X and Boomer professionals complaining about family issues, relationship problems, and personal grievances with coworkers, he witnessed something that used to be unthinkable people bringing their entire personal lives into professional spaces.The once-impenetrable wall between work and personal life has shrunk to a speed bump. For Gen X professionals, that

en

58:33

Built Tough: Women Leading Manufacturing Becca and...

Blue-Collar BS ·

2025/10/31

Two Gen X women who worked their way through male-dominated manufacturing share stories about earning respect, managing up, and why facts beat emotions every time. Becca and Jennifer reunite with Brad who used to manage them back when they all worked at Bucyrus to discuss leadership lessons.Both women rose from early roles to director level positions Becca now leads marketing at Super Products making truck mounted vacuums, while Jen oversees materials management. Their journeys reveal how women

en

25:05

Gen Z Bossing Boomers with Class with Collin Thomey

Blue-Collar BS ·

2025/10/24

At 22 years old, Colin Thomey manages staff members twice his age while running his own golf performance business on the side. His journey from retail frustration to golf course general manager reveals what happens when Gen Z enters leadership roles in family businesses.Colin learned early on in his career that coming on too strong with new ideas instead of taking time to understand the family business, their margins, memberships, and existing staff dynamics.The turning point came when Colin asked

en

24:50

Shorty Shorts, Tank Tops, and Customer Service

Blue-Collar BS ·

2025/10/17

When is a job really finished? This episode explores the gray area between completed work and customer satisfaction through Steve's personal experience as both contractor and homeowner in a landscaping project gone sideways.The conversation centers around a classic scenario: contractor completes work per original scope, homeowner calls four months later wanting additional work done. Steve built a retaining wall but explicitly excluded soil reclamation from his scope now the homeowner wants that dirt

en

28:04

From Law Enforcement to Life Protection with Captain...

Blue-Collar BS ·

2025/10/10

How aware are you of your surroundings? Retired law enforcement captain Catherine Trimboli shares decades of experience about personal safety and situational awareness, revealing why our phone-obsessed generation has become sitting ducks for criminals.This GenXer spent 30+ years in law enforcement, working everything from jails to freeway patrol as a deputy, sergeant, lieutenant, and captain. Her passion for empowering women and families grew from witnessing how many people lack basic safety

en

23:49

How to Tell If You’ve Hired the Wrong “Tool”

Blue-Collar BS ·

2025/10/03

A $6 soldering iron that catches fire the first time you use it versus a snap-on tool that still works perfectly after 35 years the difference between cheap tools and quality equipment mirrors the challenge many blue-collar businesses face with workforce compensation and expectations.The conversation starts with tool brand loyalty Milwaukee versus DeWalt versus Ryobi - and evolves into a deeper question about value. When you buy snap-on tools, you know exactly what you're getting. When you hire

en

29:07

Crispy Like Toast: What Happens When Your Business...

Blue-Collar BS ·

2025/09/26

A lot of business owners wake up one day looking like "crispy toast" and realize they need to exit only to discover their business isn't sellable. Mike Finger lived this nightmare firsthand and spent five brutal years rebuilding his company with buyers in mind before successfully selling.This Gen Xer has bought and sold multiple businesses over 25 years, learning hard lessons about what makes companies truly transferable. His approach cuts through the industry complexity and sorcery filled advice to

en

30:48

From Zero to $19 Million: Inside IRBIS HVAC’s...

Blue-Collar BS ·

2025/09/19

What happens when two 30-something millennials decide to shake up a traditional industry dominated by older, established companies? Tim and Vadim from IRBIS HVAC prove that age is just a number when you combine technical expertise with smart marketing and genuine care for your team.These Ironman finishers started as hands-on technicians and built their Silicon Valley HVAC company from scratch, reaching toward $19 million in revenue this year. Their approach to company culture, employee retention,

en

27:15

Why ‘95 Babies Might Save Your Business; Nathan Schnell

Blue-Collar BS ·

2025/09/12

From production manager to entrepreneur in just three months Nathan Schnell's water jet cutting startup reveals the real challenges and unexpected wins facing young business owners in traditional manufacturing industries.Born in 1995, Nathan represents that unique generation caught between millennials and Gen Z - old enough to appreciate wisdom from seasoned professionals, young enough to embrace new approaches. His story offers insights for anyone considering the leap from employee to entrepreneur,

en

24:04

Toxic Positivity

Blue-Collar BS ·

2025/09/05

What happens when workplace positivity becomes a toxic mask that's slowly killing your business? Steve's recent post about this very issue sparked a fascinating conversation that reveals why so many blue-collar organizations are struggling with employee loyalty and retention.The discussion began with a complete misunderstanding of what "toxic positivity" means. Its not about creating contagious positive energy it reveals the darker truth: organizations that force fake smiles while burying serious

en

26:07

Living the Dream or Chasing a Paycheck? Adam Goldman...

Blue-Collar BS ·

2025/08/29

You don’t need to know the trade to own the business. Adam Goldman helps people see why franchising might be the smartest move they’ve never considered.We brought on Adam Goldman, a franchise consultant who's seen hundreds of folks jump ship from corporate life and into something way messier and way more fulfilling. From office cleaning to water restoration to lighting installs, Adam’s not just watching the shift from white collar to blue collar he’s in the thick of it.He breaks down the

en

26:49

Retention Goldmine: Why Aaron’s Techs Never Leave

Blue-Collar BS ·

2025/08/22

We’ve all worked places where the culture sucked. Aaron Beay decided to build the one he always wanted and five years later, no one’s left.We brought Aaron on because of the culture he’s created one that actually retains young talent, and not by accident. After 18 years in the field, burnout pushed him to try teaching. That part-time gig turned into a full-blown strategy for recruiting and training a team that’s never left his side in five years. Yeah, you read that right 100% retention.Aaron

en

32:54

From Boiler Room to Business Boss: Chris Mesker's...

Blue-Collar BS ·

2025/08/15

Ever thought about owning a franchise but had no idea what kind would actually fit? Chris Mesker’s been there and most people don’t realize how many are built for the trades.In this episode, we dig into what franchise ownership really looks like, especially for those of us coming from the trades, stuck in a job you hate, or just done working for someone else. Franchising isn’t just fast food. There’s a whole world of blue collar opportunities out there, from dog poop pickup to drone powered power

en

184 results

Similar Podcasts

TaxTalent.com The Golden Rule Podcast

Adam Golden

TaxTalent.com Podcast

Tony Santiago

Handelsblatt Crime - spannende Streitfälle der deutschen Wirtschaft

Ina Karabasz, Solveig Gode, Sönke Iwersen

Deffner und Zschäpitz – Der Wirtschafts-Talk von WELT

WELT

Black Box - La scatola nera della finanza

Guido Brera e Gian Luca Comandini -...